Unscripted Television Development Intensive Workshop

The world of unscripted television is far broader and more diverse than many people realise. It includes everything from documentary series and docu-soaps, to competition elimination shows and social experiments. Many producer and aspiring producers think they have the next great unscripted show. But is it a show that could sell in today’s complicated marketplace, either in New Zealand or abroad? And is there a “special sauce” that can take the project from development hell to green-light heaven?

Saturday’s sessions will include an overview of the unscripted marketplace and advice on
identifying and securing the rights to key assets. Participants will also explore key unscripted
genres such as documentary, factual, reality, social experiment, true crime and social
experiment and creating development material such as ‘sizzle reels’.

Participants who wish to take part in the Sunday session of the workshop are invited to submit a project proposal (see details below) in advance that is built around an ASSET. It’s very difficult to protect intellectual property in the Alternative Television world since so many ideas have similarities and you can’t copyright an idea. An asset can be a human, company, organisation, book, comic-book, magazine article, social media platform, board game or any other unique element that can contractually secured.

To participate in the Sunday session, please submit one paragraph about yourself and one paragraph about your project and a short video (less than 1:30) to jade@filmbayofplenty.com by Friday October 20th, 2023. Please do not submit more than 3 ideas.

Acceptance will be based on the level of development and the viability and marketability of the submitted projects.

Date: October 28th & 29th
Time: Saturday 09:30 – 5pm with lunch-break.
Sunday (by selection as above) 09:30 – 14:00
Location: The Village Cinema, Tauranga Historic Village
Cost: $35